Australian Stock Exchange (ASX)
The largest and primary Australian stock exchange is the ASX, which stands for the Australian Securities Exchange. Although it only came into existence in its current form in 2006, its beginnings stretch back as far as 1861.
Originally, there were six stock exchanges located in major cities throughout Australia, but over time, this eventually developed into the singular Australian Stock Exchange and the Sydney Futures Exchange. Both located in Sydney, these eventually merged into the ASX as we know it today.
The Australian stock exchange is considered quite large by international standards, and currently over 2000 companies trade on the ASX. The S&P/ASX 200 is widely considered the most prevalent market index, and it is made up of the S&P/ASX 100 and an additional 100 stocks. The All Ordinaries index is still used as a significant tool for judging the market.
Today, the Australian Securities Exchange ranks among the highest in the world for market capitalisation, and it provides vital equity for companies while offering investors the opportunity to profit. Like all established economies, the Australian stock exchange remains vital to the health of the country's economy.